It was Steve Jobs’s quote- “Most people make the mistake of thinking design is what it looks like. People think it’s this veneer- that the designers are handed this box and told, Make it look good! That’s not what we think design is. It’s not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works”-that Zayed University students used as the inspiration for their artwork. A group of Zayed University young emerging designers from the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises (CACE) participated in a furniture design contest with a high quality work. The competition is hosted by Vision Furniture and Decoration Factory, which was founded in 2003 and played a role in manufacturing and delivering high quality and innovative wooden works and furniture to the UAE market.The main purpose of the competition is to enable students demonstrate better understanding of furniture design processes, material connections, and related construction details in order to develop furniture prototypes. Nineteen students enrolled in a furniture course at Zayed University, where they encouraged to design a bespoke piece of furniture. The vision is to propose a forward looking, innovative and creative design proposal for a piece of furniture, as well as work out the furniture- making aspects. The proposed furniture piece must hold the weight of one person with approximate average of 90kg. The selected furniture typology is left to the contestant’s decision. WalidSaliba, Regional Business Development Manager at Vision Factory, said: “This is a good opportunity for us in the industry to coordinate and collaborate with education institutions within the local community, as part of our community service initiatives. CACE at Zayed University provides the perfect platform for the factory to engage with young emerging designers in the UAE and help preparing the workforce for creative industries in the country.”
On her part, Ann-Maree Reaney, Dean of the CACE, said: “CACE aims to develop graduates who are leaders and innovators in the field of art and design practice, graduates who will contribute significantly to the cultural fabric of the UAE. Our intensive and rigorous art, design, new media and exhibition programs are practice based and industry-engaged. This furniture design project is one example of how interior design students engage with the[real]world of industry.” Interior design students at Zayed University, who are part of this competitive contest, also expressed their excitement for collaborating with Vision Factory, which is supported with the latest state-of-art production equipment. “It was very useful to interact with a manufacturer, and to directly discuss with him my design. The feedback is important to add a reality parameter to my design. Working with them gave me a sense of my future career. I think it was an amazing experience,” Salma Salem said. Shaikha Almulla also pointed out that the experience of designing for a real client got us to focus more and motivated us to give the best of everything.“It was a huge inspiration for me, and we are excited for what’s coming next,” she added. Additionally, Alia AlMazrooei has expressed her gratitude and admiration at the progress of her work, especially after collaborating with a high-standard manufacturer like Vision Factory.
“It was an amazing experience collaborating with a high standard manufacturer factory as a designer. The journey of working with wood to design a bespoke furniture piece has taught me many guidelines we weren’t aware of. The outcome of this project resulted in an exclusive bespoke piece from each group of students,” Alia added.
Lina Ahmad and Marco Sosa, Assistant Professors of Interior Design, supervised students during all phases of the contest. Lina said: “We are grateful to Vision Factory for providing our students with such an opportunity; and enabling us to add a practical aspect to a classroom project. This has not only altered the classroom dynamics, but also increased the students’ enthusiasm.”Additionally Sosa pointed out that CACE’s program of Interior Design at Zayed University provides students with the technical and conceptual skills to enter future professions once they graduate. “Collaborations with companies such as Vision Factory, equips our students with invaluable practical experience and insight in the industry,” he added.
About Zayed University
Zayed University is today the premier national university in the United Arab Emirates and a regional leader in educational innovation and change. It has created and implemented a skills-rich, outcome-based general education program that systemically develops student skills, knowledge, and values associated with liberal learning and provided a solid foundation for pursuit of disciplinary majors and future careers. Zayed University welcomes national and international students, and provides them with a high quality education, offered by seasoned teaching scholars to prepare them to shape the future of the United Arab Emirates.Zayed University offers Undergraduate and Graduate degrees in the following Colleges: College of Arts & Creative Enterprises (recognized as substantially equivalent by NASAD), College of Business (Accredited by AACSB), College of Communication & Media Sciences (Accredited by ACEJMC), College of Education (Accredited by NCATE), College of Sustainability Sciences & Humanities, and College of Technological Innovation (Accredited by ABET). For more information, visit www.zu.ac.ae